The Centaurs were a tribe of half man, half horse savages which inhabited the mountains and forests of Magnesia.

Another tribe of Centaurs resided in the western Peloponnese where they came into conflict with the hero Heracles.

The centaurs were usually said to have been born of Ixion and Nephele (the cloud made in the image of Hera, Zeus‘ Wife):

Ixion fell in love with Hera and tried to rape her, and when Hera told Zeus about it, Zeus wanted to determine if her report was really true. So he fashioned a cloud (nephele) to look like Hera, and laid it by Ixion’s side. When Ixion bragged that he had slept with Hera, Zeus punished him by tying him to a wheel, on which he was turned by winds up in the air. The cloud bore Kentauros (Centaurus) from Ixion’s seed. [Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca E1. 20 C2nd A.D.)].~

In the earliest accounts, the centaurs appear merely as a sort of gigantic, savage, or animal-like beings; whereas, in later writers, they are described as monsters, with the upper body of a man, from head to loins, set upon the body of a horse.

Sometimes, they had the facial feature of a man, at other times they were portrayed with the snub nose and pointed ears of a rustic Satyr.

It is probably owing to the resemblance between the nature of the centaurs and that of the satyrs, that the former were in later times drawn into the sphere of Dionysiac beings; but here they appear no longer as savage monsters, but as tamed by the power of the god.

They are described as leading a rude and savage life, occasionally carrying off the women of their neighbours, as covered with hair and ranging over their mountains like animals.

The Centaurs are best known for their fight against their cousins, The Lapith tribe, a legendary people of Greeks, whose home was in Thesaly. This fight was caused by the Centaurs’ attempt attempt to carry off Princess Hippodamia and the rest of the Lapith women on the day of Hippodamia’s marriage to Pirithous, king of Lapithae.

Pirithous and his friend, Theseus, led the Lapiths to victory over the Centaurs in a battle known as Centauromachy.

The kentauros had come to the Lapithai’s country, and now with wine he clouded his understanding and in his frenzy did monstrous things in the very hall of Peirithoos. The heroes were seized with indignation; they leapt up, they dragged the kentauros across the courtyard and out of doors, they lopped off his ears and nose with the ruthless bronze, and the frenzied creature went his way, taking his retribution with him in his still darkened mind. From this beginning came the long feud between men and Kentauroi (Centaurs) [Homer, Odyssey 21. 293 ff (Greek epic C8th B.C.)].~

The centaur is incorporated into the Zodiac sign for Sagittarius, with the bow and arrow, whose symbolism could be understood as a shamanic reference to mystic or visionary travel.

Centaurs are the antithesis of the knight and the horseman. Instead of mastering or taming their instincts, the centaurs are ruled by them. The exception is the wise Centaur Chiron.

Chiron’s mother was the nymph Philyra who was coupling with Cronos when his wife suddenly appeared on the scene. To escape notice he transformed himself into a horse, and in this way sired a half-equine son.

Chiron’s physical appearance often differs somewhat from other centaurs, demonstrating his status and heritage. In traditional Greek representations of Chiron his front legs are human, rather than equine, this is in contrast to the traditional representation of centaurs,which have the entire lower body of a horse. This clearly sets Chiron apart from the other centaurs, making him easily identifiable.

Besides, centaurs were notorious for being wild and lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, given to violence when intoxicated. Chiron, by contrast Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology for his youth-nurturing nature.

Myths in the Olympian tradition attributed Chiron’s uniquely peaceful character and intelligence to teaching by Apollo and his sister Artemis.

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•Rules for the Brotherhood Award and Creative Blogger Award: ♠Thank the person who nominated you. ♠Add the logo to your post. ♠Nominate ten (10) bloggers of your choice and tell them about the nomination.

•Notes:

-As always I am not answering questions. Hence, I will just nominate ten bloggers per award.

-If you have been nominated and want to follow the Nomination Process, just click on the award for which you have been nominated for. That way you’ll be able to grab in regular size!.~🍃 🍃🍃 ~

My darling. I loved every bit of this blog. I always do. The best bit was hearing your voice, listening to your poem. That, as I have said before is the icing on the cake. I was trying to place the music. I know I have played it but probably along time ago and being ever so slightly stressed, the name of it has gone. Anyway love this

Thanks for the great comment, dear She!… I can’t thank you enough…. Your words mean a lot to me!!!! … Oh and I don’t know which is the song on the background either, so you are not alone! Ha…. Hugs and all my best wishes! Aquileana ⭐

Thank you for sharing your beautiful poem and this very informative post, dear Aquileana. Who can tell now if they lived or not when our world was young, but I believe they did 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Inese

Centaurs are so entertaining–they provided great bad boy characters for the original mythmakers, and for present day stories. I can see a bunch of centaurs as a motorcycle gang! Thanks for giving them their own blog post, Aquileana.

Beautifully detailed presentation on the myths of Centaur and Chiron, of what were mere emblems till now. I was transported to another world of these creatures, where I rode a Chiron, floating all the way to aqui-land…warm hugs and wishes your way… Raj.

Aaah! I am left breathless! Riding the Centaur, glass in hand, watched by those ever jealous Gods (well, I’m surrounded by nymphs and princesses aren’t I?) – and sliding down just in time to hear your poem (great to hear your voice in your home language!), read your magical words (which so match with the Centaurs story I think – nice one! – a really good poem…such evocative imagery…) then for a second trip through – just to browse the pics and paintings adorning the story. Phew! Pause at your awards – congrats! – absorb your bonus (the feeling of Buenos Aires and your beautiful self!) – Deep breath!……Drink ….. Okay …. Time for a third ride! …. mmm…. where is a Centaur when you need one? 🙂
Thank you, as always, for the experience! Stunning! 🙂

Hi dear Rob!… I am very happy to know that you enjoyed the post… Your comment is awesome…. I love the way that you wrote it sequentially, so as to say…
One of the best comments indeed! … thanks truly…. All my very best wishes to you! ❤ Aquileana ⭐

How interesting to learn about the origin of the centaurs, the different types and particularly about Chiron’s physiacal appearance and intelligence. He was very different to his ‘wild and lusty’ counterparts. Thank you for a wonderful and informative post, Aquileana. 🙂

The way you pointed out how the centaurs are the antithesis of knights and horsemen immediately set my brain to thinking what a mash-up of a story that could be where the two come into conflict with each other for some reason or another.

Hi Jeri! … Well that would be a sort of warlike scenario, indeed!…
Also, It is interesting that in this dichotomy, Chiron, the wisest and oldest centaur, is a sort of hybrid character!…
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Each time I visit your blog I’m amazed by the detail and your descriptive analysis of what a mere individual such as myself [who didn’t study Greek Mythology] in either undergraduate or graduate studies can learn from your blog. You are complete and your blogs follow an interpretative succession allowing me, the non-educated Greek Mythology individual, the opportunity to learn and grow and even understand some of what was completely foreign to me before. I sincerely appreciate the hard work you put into each of your presentations.
I enjoyed your poem immensely and have printed it out for a frame I keep here by my PC to enjoy on a regular basis. Thank you. Sheri

Thanks so much for such a beautiful comment!…. I would have never expected to read these words, humbly saying!.
I can not thank you enough!…. Very happy to read this!. All my best wishes and I hope that you have a great week! Aquileana ⭐

Another insightful post. I’m very curious about your background and your calling to bring these deities into clarity. I know the centaurs from the years I read Harry Potter.. they seemed wise and mercurial. 🙂

At last! The Centaurs have center stage and a spotlight shining upon them. I loved this post, Aquileana. And I’ve always been drawn to centaurs. (Maybe it’s that whole lusty reputation bit?) The stories continue to fascinate me.
And this week’s paintings were mesmerizing. Spectacular art, indeed.
Your poetry? Purely magical. What a talent you possess.
Many thanks for sharing all that you do and the great efforts you put into the work.
Cheers!

Hi tehre dear Shelley!…. I am so happy to read your comment…. Very pleased to know taht you enjoyed the post on the centaurs, with the respective paintings… And thanks so much for your words with regard to my poem… I really appreciate them!… All my best wishes and I hope you have a great week! Aquileana ⭐

These half man (or woman)/ half beast or bird creatures are so fascinating and writers are still including them in their stories. There must be some kind of need in humans, perhaps envy of the perceived freedom of birds and animals, that makes these creatures so popular. I really enjoyed this post and all the art work you included. I also loved your poem and all your photographs too. Have a lovely week-end dear Aquileana,
Best wishes, Clare xx

Hi there dear Clare!
Thank you very much 💫✨🌟
I truly appreciate your words. Knowong that you enjoyed the post, poem and pics means a lot to me!
Sending you all my best wishes!. Have a great week. Aquileana 😀

So much thoughts and research that goes into your post that it keeps me thinking and so much to learn and never easy to go in one go and keep coming back and take so many new things out your post. These are just not simple poems but carries profound message and always a pleasure reading your post.
Keep inspiring us with your deep knowledge and deeper analysis.
😀

It is always a pleasure Aquilena, sharing such thoughts and ideas with you, you have such rich thoughts , it keeps questioning my assumptions and is always an inspiration for something new to be created…
Nothing can be more beautiful than good conversations… life is indeed beautiful and writing is intrinsically romantic, and we all as writer are blessed soul and love to be in such intellectually driven and emotion draw to such profound imagery and articulation of thoughts…
You too have a wonderful week ahead and lots of joy…
take care…
😀

Once again your talent shines through, I love your poem and also all those things about Centaurs I never knew I didn’t know. They always hold an affectionate place in my heart because of the old BBC adaptation of Narnia, of course they were seen as more noble in that fantasy. I’m a Sagittarian myself but make it a habit to not carry women off on a whim.

I liked the trip around Buenos Aires as well, does that make you a Boca Juniors or River Plate fan?

Thanks for telling me about the old BBC adaptation of Narnia, also featuring the Centaurs… I am quite null when it comes to SCIFI. Ha!. 😛
I am pleased to know that you enjoyed the reading, dear Ste, you Saggittarian, you! … [I am Scorpion, mind you]!.
Anyway, also glad to know that you liked the gallery with those pics from BA and mine!…
I am a Boca Juniors Fan!… Yes… There are many Football Clubs here, but River and Boca are the leading ones… Or at least those which summon crowds!…
Do you have a favourite argentine Football Club?… All my best wishes to you! Happy week!. Aquileana 😀

I hear good things about you Scorpios, I always enjoy a good photo, that and I am nosy hehe.

I had a bit of a love for Velez Sarsfield after they trounced Milan in the old Intercontinental cup in the mid-nineties, so I like to follow them but I take an interest in the table even if it bewilderingly big this year with 30 times. It’s good to see Boca having a resurgence recently with some big name players coming back. I shall stop there before this becomes a long winded rant about football, which I could happily spend all day on but will refrain from because you have more fun things to do!

I enjoyed this post on Centaurs, considered the antithesis of noble knights. who could not control their instincts. It is fascinating how Greek mythology uses half man/ half animal creatures to describe human characteristics. I had always wondered why the centaurs were associated with the god of wine Dionysus and revelry. Thank you for sharing your wealth of information on Greek Mythology.

Dear Linnea!…. As far as I am concerned Centaurs were associated with Dionysus when they were depicted as satyrs… Meaning in the wildest shapes… Chiron would be of course, the counterpart of these depictions!… And, once again keeping in mind the rivalry between Knights and Centaurs, Chiron would be a sort of intermediary or hybrid character, half way!…
Anyway, I am so pleased to read your comment and to know that you enjoyed the instalment…. Thanks, truly!… All my best wishes to you,. Have a great week ahead. Aquileana 😀

I didn’t know about the peaceful nature of Chiron! I also listened with great pleasure to your poem and tried to make out some of the Spanish words such as:Tu fertilidad de verano. Thank you very much, dear Acquileana, for your as always most versatile contributions. Un abbraccio Martina

Thanks for taking time here, dear Martina…. How neat that you even tried to unravel my words in Spanish…. I am humbly grateful.
Have a wonderful week ahead… Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Aquileana – Thanks for another great post. I appreciate all the important detail you add to your posts. One example: “Centaurs are the antithesis of the knight and the horseman. Instead of mastering or taming their instincts, the centaurs are ruled by them.”

That is also a sentence that caught my attention…. The opposition between Knights and centaurs, depicting the antinomy Civilization vs Wildness
Thanks for dropping by, dear Dave… I really appreciate it!. All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀

Aqui, I am touched!!!! Thank you so much for the nomination of the creative blogger award! 😀 I have to tell you that this particular piece of yours is not only informative and fun (always loving these art pieces that you curate here in your gallery); it’s awesome.This post is awesome. Chiron as centaur has always held meaning for me in an astrological sense, and in his relationship to healing. Your poem is deeply beautiful. Then atop it all, you share your voice! Beautiful. Warmest regards, Hoping your weekend was lovely and your week as well. xxKa

Thank you very much for your beautiful comment dear Ka… It is neat to know that Chiron was also placed among the stars, somehow.. I appreciate that you told me so!. I am very pleased to know that you enjoyed the greek myth and that you liked my poem, too!. Last but not least, it was my pleasure to nominate you for an award… You truly deserve it!… Love and all my best wishes to you. Aquileana 😀

Thanks so much dear Teagan!…. I am glad to know that you enjoyed the post on the centaurs… But even more to see that you liked my poem. Mega hugs to you as well! …. Happy evening and night ahead! Aquileana ⭐

Another fabulous post. I’ve always wondered about the centaurs and the various treatment of them in myth. As usual, you have shared such interesting information. Zeus has a way of showing up everywhere! Thanks for the nomination, too. Wow! Hope your week is spectacular!

I’ve known about the look of centaurs from artwork but knew nothing about their character. Of course I like good Chiron best. Isn’t the drawing by Gustave Moreau beautiful? And the one by Franz von Stuck so delightfully grotesque!

Your poem, dear Aquileana, gives me goose bumps…”unrelenting water flows like a river of time”…”All memory is dryness, vague journey from Present to Past”… I relate to those sentiments quite acutely.

Thanks for your beautiful comment…. The story of the centaurs is quite amazing, isn’t it?… I knew about Chiron as well, mainly because he was Asclepius’ teacher …. But going deeper into it, I found lots of new information!.
Good to know that you enjoyed the feature and liked the paintings… Right, that one by Moreau is beautiful… I’d say that it is one of my favourites here!…
Your words as to my poem mean so much to me!… I am very glad to know that you liked it, my friend …
Hugs and all my best wishes to you! Aquileana ⭐

You look well awarded and you truly deserve that 🙂 I have the honor to nominate your blog to the One Lovely Blog Award. As the award title says I think your blog is lovely. Your posts are very interesting and informative. It is a joy to visit and read. Feel free to visit my blog for more information about the award. Congrats!

Your gift of bring up such significant and fascinating mythology to the present day is amazing Aquileana; Zues is still my hero but he has such a great cast of characters around him…each one giving us something to dream and think about. Cheers to a great week ~

Dear Dalo!…. You are right as to Zeus… I think all his lovers and stories involving him make him even more powerful and appealing! …. I am very glad to read your comment, my friend …. Have a wonderful rest of your week!… Best wishes. Aquileana ⭐

I love that first illustration – hadn’t seen it before. As a kid I always thought Centaurs being half horse and half human had the best of both worlds – able to run wild free and smart.
Aways a lovely read here. What more could anyone ask? Art, mythology, and poetry – winning combination

And that’s how half human, half horse called. Wow, very interesting. I was fascinated by the story of Centaurs. When I was young, my mom always tease me about them … – that if I won’t obey, a horse like creature will chase me. Glad I read this one. I loved how you crafted your poem. Well verse. Keep it coming 🙂

Thank you very much for dropping by… I really appreciate your comment and the childhood memories you shared with us here… Be aware of the centaurs! 💫✨🌟
I am glad to know that you enjoyed the post and that you also liked my poem!.
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

Buongiorno, cara Aquileana,
It is interesting to read how the centaurs were regards as wild, savage, marauders and invaders, yet I see the horse as a majestic animal. Interesting how the perception of certain animals differ.
Great post and on a area of myth not written about often.
Have a great weekend.
ciao, Luciana 😀

Tante grazie cara Luciana…. I was intrigued by the fact that centaurs were associated with satyrs at times and that they even were said to represen the wild side of human psyche…. Their majestical side ofwould be probably related to Chiron, the wisest centaur, I think…
Thank you very much for your words. I highly appreciate them, Luciana…. Have a wonderful week ahead! Aquileana ⭐

Yes that could be a reason! Ha 😀 Thanks so much, dear Kev, for dropping by and for you words here… I really appreciate your comment…
All my best wishes and I hope you have a good week ahead! Aquileana ⭐

hello aqulieana its dennis the vizsla dog hay my brother tucker always yoozed to go on and on and on abowt sum horse frend wot he had bak in the mithikal land of noo york do yoo think that mite hav ben a centaur??? if it had arms and hands then it cud giv tucker treets and that mite eksplayn why tucker liked it so mutch!!! ok bye

Amalia, I think you will be very occupied – may I ask a question? Why is it possible to publish all the wonderful images here? In Europe there is always a problem with the copyright. I will be very glad to get an answer!

Thanks a lot for dropping by and for your beautiful comment!. 🙂 I am really pleased to know that you liked the post and the photographs. Your words mean so much to me! Thanks!… Love and best wishes. Aquileana 😀

Oh my gosh! I really like Greek mythology, in my opinion the best in the world. A very interesting blog. Loved this post. Will stayed tuned for more and read here as and when time permits. Thank you so very much for reading at my blog.
Best wishes and regards.

I must admit that I’ve always had a liking for the centaurs – when I first saw them as a kid I thought they just look cool 🙂

My favourite passage here is: “Philyra who was coupling with Cronos when his wife suddenly appeared on the scene. To escape notice he transformed himself into a horse, and in this way sired a half-equine son” – ah isn’t that how it always happens! 😉

And thanks for adding the lovely views of Buenos Aires too, a city I’ve never visited but would like to, one day.

Hi Aquileana: long time, no hear. How are you, and how have you been? I’ve been away. Unavoidably busy. Hope things are fine at your end.

This must be my favorite post of all. I can relate to Centaurs (but I’m not wild, lusty and other things) in some ways, especially that I am Sagittarius, and have a tattoo very much like your first picture in the post (minus the Cupid).

Hi dear Mahesh!… How nice to read your comment… I am doing well and glad to know from you!… Also happy to know that you enjoyed the post here… I much appreciate your words!… All my best wishes. Aquileana 😀

[…] this blog challenge, and I am grateful that you extended your dates. Thank you to Aquileanna from La Audacia de Aquiles: El Mundo Visible es Sólo un Pretexto for the Creative Blogger nomination! I honestly take this award as a challenge to get more […]

I always wondered about half man half beast and wondered if in some ages past we had experimented in Genetics 😉 ..
I also so loved your poetry..

“And a thousand ships crossing the Lethe,
the salty river of forgetfulness .
Thirst and desire, outsider lighthouses.
All memory is dryness,
vague journey from Present to Past. ”

Your expertise in bring the past to life dear Aquileana is always a wonder.. Your posts delve into the mysteries of time.. And the amount of time you must spend in putting them together .. I truly love to spend time here to dwell upon your words..
Your talents as a poet are awesome.. 🙂

Love to you and It was so good to catch up and spend quality time here reading through History and Mythology again.. xxx Love and Big Hugs Sue ❤ xxx

This is such a profound articulation of thought, each words and each verses are so beautifully presented, it keeps questioning us and forces to think, think deeply and the reflection on life is what makes our life more beautiful. The followings verse is what deeply touched me;

“Cracks of your footsteps.
Surreptitious hollows and shadows.
Unrelenting water flows,
like a river of time.”

You keep creating one brilliant piece after the other, the coverage of your topic keeps me wandering.
Have a lovely weekend.
😀

Dear Nihar!… I can not thanks you enough for your comment… Your words mean a lot to me… Really grateful for your support and glad to know that you liked my poem…
All my best wishes for a great week ahead. Aquileana 😀

I don’t know if anyone else mentioned it as I only skim read the comments but the battle of humans and centaurs was depicted in the Parthenon in Athens. I think it was meant as an analogy of the Athenians fighting the Persians. It may have also been meant as the Athenians fighting the Spartans. It can be seen at the British museum in London.

A most interesting comment, I think the engravings of the Parthenon you mentioned are included in the Gallery… if not I must have seen them on Pinterest …
I much appreciate your words here, dear Eric… Sending best wishes. Aquileana 🐉☀️

[…] ________________________________________________________________ The Centaurs were a tribe of half man, half horse savages which inhabited the mountains and forests of Magnesia. Another tribe of Centaurs resided in the western Peloponnese where… […]

I must have missed this post originally when you published it, AP, as I did not have “like” on it… yet! Now I have 🙂 I noticed it is almost a year to the day that this post first published. So it’s good I came here before it got to the 1-year mark, hehe 😉 I liked learning more about centaurs, complete with a poem~ Sending love for your day ☼

Hi Chris… Thank you very much ❤ It is great to read your comment before the one year mark 😀 Actually this is one of my favorite posts ever so I am very glad to know that you enjoyed it too…
Sending much love, as always… Aquileana 😀

Amazing poem dear and so happy to learn about centuars and chirion and how chirion looked all different from fellow centuars. It was so interesting to know ! Congratulations on all the awards, much loves and happy weekend 😊😊 xx

Chiron was a laudable centaur, for sure… Far beyond all the members of his specie, without any doubt… Thanks so much for dropping by, reading & commenting!… I a so glad to know that you enjoyed this feature!… Sending love & best wishes for your weekend … and beyond! Aquileana ⭐